Does any motherboard offer adjustable crossover slope/points for sub output?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rick Z
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Rick Z

Almost all motherboards have built in audio, most now offer subwoofer output as well. I was
wondering if anyone has heard if its possible to get software or a driver to control the subwoofer
crossover slope, output and perhaps even phase? For reasons I won't get into here computer speakers
won't do it for me, and I don't want to use an electronic crossover (costs quite a bit). I thought
if the motherboard is already outputting the sub for me, all I have to do is control the range it
operates in (please don't suggest equalization!) and get a second amp for the sub. Its for a 2.1
system (2 speakers and a sub.) If someone can suggest a more appropriate newsgroup to post this in,
please do.
 
I would assume that if your soundcard does output subwoofer, it would also
allow for control of that output. look at your sound card software, since you
didn't state it, we couldn't guess.
 
Rick said:
Almost all motherboards have built in audio, most now offer subwoofer
output as well. I was wondering if anyone has heard if its possible to
get software or a driver to control the subwoofer crossover slope,
output and perhaps even phase? For reasons I won't get into here
computer speakers won't do it for me, and I don't want to use an
electronic crossover (costs quite a bit). I thought if the motherboard
is already outputting the sub for me, all I have to do is control the
range it operates in (please don't suggest equalization!) and get a
second amp for the sub. Its for a 2.1 system (2 speakers and a sub.)
If someone can suggest a more appropriate newsgroup to post this in,
please do.
Click to expand...

Boards with Nvidia SoundStorm, had adjustable crossover. My Asus
A7N8X-E Deluxe would be such a board. There are other motherboards
with Nforce2 and that sound feature as well. Those motherboards are
well out of date, although still appreciated by AthlonXP users.

LFE Crossover frequency 179Hz (50-500Hz adjustable)

http://www.3dss.com/reviews/nForce/images/speaker_setup.jpg

This Soundblaster Audigy (likely a PCI card), offers a
Crossover Frequency Adjustment (10 - 200Hz).

http://www.baber.com/baber/sound/soundblaster_audigy.htm

Another Creative product, with a crossover setting. This is
in a THX adjustment panel, but implies they've got the
software in place to do stuff like that.

http://www.soundblaster.com/product...?articleid=53875&categoryID=14&page=1&print=1

Be aware, that features like this, are done with digital
signal processing, either via the main processor, or in
the case of the Nvidia SoundStorm, by a set of DSP processors
inside the chipset. So on the one hand, they're programmable
by the driver writers. And on the other hand, the end user
doesn't get a say in how they work.

There are lots of other motherboard built-in audio solutions,
that are so crappy, they don't even have bass and treble
controls, let alone equalization. So your typical AC'97 sound
solution, is devoid of adjustments like that. And getting an
Nforce2 motherboard, with SoundStorm, is going a long distance
only to find you don't like the Nvidia software.

I think a PCI sound card may be the easiest to deal with.
One problem is, Creative SoundBlaster, doesn't have PDF
manuals. It may be pretty difficult to get any kind of
advanced information, as to feature set. The kind of thing
I can find on the SoundBlaster site, is ".chm" or Windows
help files, and they're thread bare in terms of level of
detail.

So you may have to rely on reviews and screenshots taken
by the reviewer, to get any idea as to what the controls
look like. A pretty crappy way to shop.

Paul
 
Some great info, you guys. Many thanks. I see what you mean - its such a seldom asked for feature
its unlikely a built in solution is going to cut it. They don't mention crossover slope. Its
crucial to have it at least 18db/octave and preferably 24db/octave. Most are at 12db/octave. I
should have mentioned I only need it for the bass - so it would be simply a low pass filter. You
never use electronic crossovers for the midrange. Wrecks the sound. Passive (6db/octave) can be
accomplished by putting a single capacitor on the input of your midrange power amp. Doesn't mess
with the phasing either apparently. For anybody interested, Google "near field" or nearfield audio.
Its a whole new world of audio from your computer. Most people don't have a clue how good it can
get.
 
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